Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 35
- Location
- San Marcos, Texas
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Impeding Passage Through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
A relative of Samuel Montoya told the FBI on Jan. 11, 2021, that Montoya works for the far-right website Infowars and had showed family members video of himself walking through the Capitol building on Jan. 6, according to court documents. He also showed his family footage he took of the shooting of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt. The relative pointed to a 44-minute video narrated by “Sam with Infowars.com.” The court documents state Montoya repeatedly identifies himself to others as a “reporter” and “journalist” in the video as he works his way through the crowd, but the Senate press office confirmed that Montoya does not possess congressional press credentials. At one point, Montoya narrates, “We’re gonna do whatever it takes to MAGA.” A minute later in the video, he adds, “We have had enough! We’re not gonna take your f***ing vaccines!” In the days following the riot, Montoya was interviewed three times to share his “exclusive” eyewitness account on the Infowars podcast “War Room,” according to court documents.
Case History
Montoya pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 4/5/2023 to 36 months of Probation; 120 hours of location monitoring; 60 hours of community service; Special assessment of $10; Restitution of $500; Fine of $1,500. Montoya received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.